Page:Lltreaties-ustbv001.pdf/218

Rh 1st. For territorial conveyance, 2 francs per kilogram of letters and postcards, and 25 centimes per kilogram of other articles;

2nd. For maritime conveyance:

a. the territorial transit rates, if the distance traversed does not exceed 300 nautical miles. Nevertheless, the maritime conveyance on a route not exceeding 300 nautical miles is gratuitous if the Administration interested receives already, on account of mails or correspondence conveyed, the remuneration applicable to territorial transit;

b. 5 francs per kilogram of letters and post cards and 50 centimes per kilogram of other articles, for exchanges effected on a route exceeding 300 nautical miles, between countries of Europe, between Europe and the ports of Africa and Asia on the Mediterranean and the Black Sea or between any of these ports, and between Europe and North America. The same rates are applicable to conveyances secured within the entire jurisdiction of the Union between two ports of one and the same State, as well as between the ports of two States served by the same line of steamers when the maritime conveyance does not exceed 1500 nautical miles;

c. 15 francs per kilogram of letters and post cards and 1 franc per kilogram of other articles, for all conveyances not coming under the categories mentioned under "a" and "b" above. In the case of maritime conveyance effected by two or several Administrations, the charges for the entire conveyance cannot exceed 15 francs per kilogram of letters and post cards and 1 franc per kilogram of other articles. The charges are, in such cases, divided between the Administrations participating in the service pro rata for the distances traversed, without prejudice to other arrangements which may be made between the parties interested.

4.—The transit rates specified in the present Article do not apply either to conveyance by means of services depending upon Administrations foreign to the Union, or to conveyance within the Union by means of extraordinary services specially established or maintained by one Administration, either in the interest, or at the request of one or several other Administrations. The conditions of the last mentioned category of conveyance are regulated by mutual agreement between the Administrations interested.

Moreover, wherever the transit, either territorial or maritime, is at present gratuitous or subject to more advantageous conditions, that state of affairs is maintained.

5.—It is however understood:

1st that the charges for territorial transit shall be reduced, viz:

indent=2|

5%, during the first two years of the application of the present Convention;

10%, during the two following years;

15%, after four years;